It was almost
nine. Jenny was dressed and waiting for Alex. Heremotions were spiraling. She glanced at her
watch. Ten to nine. She paced her apartment, pausing momentarily before a
gold-edged mirror. She'd spent much too long getting dressed, hoping to hit
on the right outfit. Okay, she had scolded herself, it doesn't matter what
to wear. This is probably the last time you'll see Alex Kendall. This, after
all, is not a date, but a professional assignment. After his cool disinterest
last night, she recognized that she was only a necessity to close his case.
She pulled on an old red wool turtleneck sweater, black wool pants and slipped
on black loafers. Just the right touch, she thought, for casually indifferent
strangers.

Since her father's
funeral more than two weeks ago, the reality of her loss had left Jenny stunned
and grief-stricken. For the first few days, an insistent fullness in her
throat had nearly choked her with sorrow. They say time heals all wounds,
she thought, and wondered how much time? She had submerged herself in work,
graciously acknowledging longtime customer's condolences over the death of
her father. But, the blackness of night brought unanswered questions. She
asked herself hundreds of times what Uncle Charlie had written in that note
addressed to her. What had he to do with her father's involvement with Berkowitz?
Once or twice, she thought she'd go to his apartment herself and solve this
riddle. Then she remembered that Alex had kept the key. And she had promised
that they'd open the envelope together. After he'd left her
in

-189-

the lobby of the Holiday Inn, she'd heard
no more from him. Until the rap on the bookstore window last
night.

Now, she walked
to the window and looked out at the still raging storm. Countless drifts
of snow banks glared white in the morning sun.

Her heart leaped.
A dark car, perhaps a late model Buick, was parked directly across the street.
A man sat emotionlessly at the wheel staring up at her window. She stepped
back and watched as Alex parked his Volvo, jog up the steps, and press her
doorbell. She reached for her black wool parka, snatched up her purse and
gloves from the table and dashed down the stairs.

"Step inside
a moment, Alex," she whispered at the door. "Look at that car. That man has
been staring at my window."

Alex took her
arm and led her down the few steps to his Volvo. "Yes," he said, "that's
our man, Eastman. O'Reilly insisted on sending another agent to watch out
for you." He looked at her and grinned. "He thinks I'm too
involved."

He seemed like
the bantering, attentive Alex Kendall she'd first met in Los Angeles. She
wanted to ask if it were true. Was O'Reilly right? Was he too involved? Instead,
she pulled the collar of her parka close around her shoulders and settled
into the warmth of the car.

"Did you rest
well last night?" he asked politely.

"What do you
think? I'm at a loss to know how Uncle Charlie got involved in Dad's business
with Berkowitz."

"How much do
you really know about your Uncle Charlie?"

Jenny stiffened.
"You asked me that same question about my father."

Alex reached
over and touched her hand. "I regret that question, Jenny. I know my accusation
about your father deeply hurt you."

"Yes, it
did."

"Okay, we're
on Michigan Boulevard. Give me that address again."

Jenny checked the address. "I've never been
there, Alex, but I'm surprised we're in such an affluent
area."

"It is at that.
What's his line of work?"

-190-

Jenny bit her
lip, trying to formulate an answer. "Not much," she finally said, "he travels
a lot, lives off a small trust fund from his grandmother. Not enough to live
in this neighborhood. Not unless he won the lottery.

They drove several
blocks before Jenny pointed out a handsome brick complex. She held the key
her uncle had left for her and walked up the steps to unlock the outer
door.

Jenny gasped.
Charlie Lansing's apartment was luxurious, as if he really had won
the lottery. The living room reflected a richly woven lifestyle with beige
and white studio couches facing a white fireplace. A gold and crystal coffee
table held two carved alabaster figurines, memorabilia from his travels to
the Far East. A black lacquer dining room suite and matching breakfront held
a collection of antique treasures from the orient. Framed paintings of Chinese
art hung over the fireplace.

Jenny stared
in astonishment. "What does this mean?"

"What?" Alex
came to stand beside her. "You look like you've seen a
ghost."

"Uncle Charlie
doesn't have the money for this kind of lifestyle."

"No? Well, enough
looking around, let's find the note."

They found the
white envelope on the fireplace mantle, with Jenny's name written in Charlie's
familiar sprawl. Jenny held it tenuously and looked at Alex with wide, almost
alarmed eyes. Something mysterious had happened in her uncle's life. She
remembered his old cramped apartment on the southside where none of his three
rooms were favored by the sun.

When she'd asked
her father about Charlie's meager lifestyle. Dad laughed and said his cold
empty rooms liberate him."

"Please, Alex,
I can't. You open it."

Alex took it
from her, slit the envelope open and sat on the chair to read the note on
both sides of the stationary.

-191-

"Do you want
to read it with me or shall I read it for you?"

Jenny offered
a shaky smile. "You read it first."

A deep frown
creased his forehead. With tightened lips, he handed the letter to
her.

"My dear beautiful
niece, Jenny." Charlie wrote. I'm writing this as I gaze at incredibly beautiful
mountains surrounded by mountains and a blue-green lake. It was easy to
impersonate your dad at the Swiss bank and withdraw the funds he'd snitched
from the mob. The day for my revenge came when he handed me the sealed envelope,
telling me I must give it to you unopened. Revenge for what, you might ask?
Well, let me tell you. Your dad always had everything. Good looks, a beautiful
wife, and a gorgeous daughter. Your honorable father, so favored by our parents,
was the golden boy. He inherited the business, and I, always second best,
was given the leavings. It it wasn't for my grandmother's trust fund I would
have had to work. I'm sorry for you, Jenny. You worshiped your father. Thought
he was so perfect. Who would have thought, he'd turn out to be a common thief?
Maybe it's in our blood. No one will ever find me. My apartment is leased
through the middle of June. Beautiful, isn't it? I'm sure you're wondering
how I can afford such luxuries. Well, now you know. After the lease is up,
you can keep or sell the furniture. I'll never see you again. The mob would
do away with me in a minute, not to mention the police. Good luck, Jenny,
and goodbye. Your always devoted Uncle Charlie.

Jenny looked
at Alex in stunned disbelief. Her hands were trembling. Alex took a step
forward and in a moment she was in his arms, weeping silently on his chest.
He tipped her face to his and tenderly kissed each tear. his lips slid to
her mouth and their mutual desires, dormant for weeks, came deliciously
alive.

"Jenny," Alex
whispered her name over and over.

Moving out of
his arms, Jenny took a deep breath. "What happens to Uncle
Charlie?"

Alex looked
at her as if her questions had canceled his released emotions. "We'll investigate
his whereabouts. Of course, the case against

-192-

your father is closed. I'll give the note
to O'Reilly and he'll pursue your uncle. There is nothing more for you to
fear. O'Reilly called me early this morning. They've arrested the three remaining
members of Gavota's mob. With their arrest, you'll not need a body guard
after all. You're free.

Jenny walked
to the window. "I have no family."

"Jenny, look
at me."

With tears standing
in her eyes, Jenny turned. They were five feet apart and yet she'd never
felt so close to anyone, ever.

"I can't talk
to you across the room. Come here."

She didn't
move.

Alex threw her
a quick, boyish grin. "For once, could you do as I say?"

Jenny walked
toward him, her heart thundering crazily.

He drew her
into his arms. "I love you, Jenny Lansing," he said softly. "And you're going
to be my wife."

"Ordering me
around again, are you?"

Lost to the
magic of the moment her arms closed gently around his
neck.

He grinned and
touched his lips to hers. "And do you have something else to
say?"

"Maybe," she
murmured against his lips.

"Then say
it."

"I love you,
Alex."

He cupped her
face in his hands. "You and I will be family, as soon as you answer my
question."

"It seemed more
of statement to me."

"So, now I'll
ask you. Jenny, will you marry me?"

"Can I think
about it?"

"For how
long?"

"About a
minute?"

He laughed with
her, playfully looked at his watch and watched the second hand slowly make
its round.

-193-

"Time's up."
Alex kissed the tip of her nose.

"Last night,"
Jenny stepped back, "you were so distant, I thought you had little or no
interest in me, perhaps you had another girl,
perhaps..."

He drew her
back into his arms. "Jenny, I've never spoken those words to another
woman."

Jenny whispered
against his lips, "Yes, Alex. Yes, I'll marry you."

"Let's get out
of this apartment. Fancy or not, it isn't where I planned to propose to the
girl of my dreams."

Alex held her
hand tightly as they walked out into the cold, damp air.

"Do you mind
telling me something, Alex?" Jenny asked on the drive back to her
home.

"Anything, my
sweet."

"Why were you
so distant last night?"

"Because I suspected
your uncle had opened the envelope and I didn't want to broach the subject.
And not only was I exhausted after a week of chasing the Gavota boys, my
heart was in my mouth wondering if you'd let me back into your
life."

Jenny squeezed
his hand. "I hope you'll never let me go."

"Never, my Jenny.
Never. I have something to say as we begin this journey together, but I don't
want to say it driving on gridlocked Michigan Boulevard. Tonight, we'll have
dinner at my favorite restaurant. It's small and quiet and perfect for our
first dinner together when you're not furious with me. I'll pick you up at
seven."

The restaurant
was just as Alex described, quiet and small, with an ambience of greenery.
A poignant melody accompanied by soft orchestrations completed the romantic
evening.

After they ordered
dinner, Alex leaned forward and handed Jenny a black velvet box. A solitaire
diamond winked up at her and as she gazed at it. Alex reached over, took
the ring from the box and slipped it on her finger. He brought her hand to
his lips.

"We're beginning
a lifelong journey together, Jenny." He said. "It's my deepest hope and prayer
that we begin and end our walk with God.

-194-

We'll help each
other. I'll lean on you and you'll lean on me, and we'll build our life together
and by His grace we'll grow old together."

"Alex," Jenny
began, but couldn't complete the sentence for the tears in her
throat.

His hand tightened
on hers. "Jenny, I know what's in the world and the feeling of walking without
a compass, a course or a map. I've traveled the globe and it didn't matter
if I was in a crowd or alone, I found nothing but emptiness and futility.
Oh, I knew happiness for brief moments of time, depending on the circumstances,
but no lasting joy. We all need a guide and that's what God offers us as
we begin this journey together."

Jenny nodded.
"Since the night I said 'yes' to God, I've had an incredible peace. The
questions, the fear, the restlessness is gone."

Alex smiled.
"There will be times when we disagree and that's okay. But we weave our lives
together to create a beautiful pattern. I saw in my parent's lives a steadfast
faith in God no matter what winds blew their way. After Dad and my sister
were killed, my mother endured her loss with a strong faith that never wavered.
No matter how angry I became, or how strongly I argued for other philosophies,
she stood firm. I thought her narrow-minded, unlearned about the great
philosophers but when she became ill with cancer, her strength and constant
faith in the midst of pain was a far greater lesson than all the philosophers
in the world...beyond any words or scripture or
sermons."

Jenny looked
at Alex's strong, handsome face in silent joy. She had fought her feelings
for him, but from the beginning he had touched some wellspring within her
that nothing, not anger or fear could quench. Now, with his ring on her finger
and his hand in hers, the stunning realization hit her. This was the great
love she had witnessed between her parents, the one she had longed for
herself.

"Amazing, isn't
it?" Jenny said. "How we met, what we've been through, and now... this."
She touched her ring. "We experienced more together in one week than most
couples do in a year."

-195-

Their server
set their meal before them and neither one picked up their forks. They were
entranced by the moment. Finally, Alex sat back and
grinned.

"No, actually,
I haven't. A small afternoon ceremony with a few close friends will do. And
it can be in January or February or... whatever suits
you."

Alex grinned.
"January suits me fine."

"This is still
January, isn't it? Jenny laughed.

Alex grinned.
"How about next week? We'll get a license tomorrow and wait the designated
time and O'Reilly will be my best man." His sentences were colliding. "He
was, after all, inadvertently our matchmaker."

Their food grew
cold. Alex looked down at his plate and back at Jenny.

"Are you
hungry?"

She shook her
head.

He leaned closer
and touched his lips to hers. "Take a few bites to satisfy the cook and let's
go. We have a wedding to plan."